19.06.2021 13:45 Date: June 19, 2021 Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Detroit-based guest artist , honors Juneteenth, an annual federal holiday celebrating the liberation of Black enslaved people in the United States. On this day in 1865, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas received news of the Emancipation Proclamation, an executive order that mandated the end of slavery in Confederate states during the American Civil War. Despite its passage on January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation remained opposed for years by several states still under Confederate control. Texas represented the westernmost edge of the Confederate territories and was thus among the American regions with the least Union presence. It was in the Lone Star State’s port town of Galveston that some 1,800 Union troops finally arrived to establish Union authority on June 19, 1865. Here, the now-famous “General Orders, Number 3” was dispatched, which proclaimed the end of slavery to over 250,000 Black Texans. Although this decree did not guarantee immediate independence or equality for Texas’s Black community, an unprecedented freedom and civil rights movement followed in its wake–the legacy of which persists today. Today’s Doodle artwork celebrates joy within the Black community, as well as the perseverance foundational to this journey toward liberation. With each letter, the Doodle transitions from historical Juneteenth parades to modern-day traditions such as education through storytelling, outdoor gatherings with family and friends, and commemorative festivals and parades. These scenes of celebration and community are brightened by bluebonnets—the state flower of Texas—and forget-me-nots that are layered upon backgrounds of decorative ironwork commonly found on buildings throughout the southern states. This ironwork highlights the often forgotten contributions made by enslaved Black Americans and symbolizes their strength and resilience. While Juneteenth recognizes over a century and a half of progress, it also reminds Americans to continue to build a more equitable and unified nation. Happy Juneteenth! Guest Artist Q&A with Rachelle Baker Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Detroit-based guest artist . Below, she shares her thoughts behind the making of this Doodle: Q. What was your creative process for this Doodle artwork? A. I looked at tons of photos and art illustrating some of the first ever Juneteenth celebration, as well as celebrations, parades, and festivities from recent years. I also read about specific symbols, foods, colors, and activities that were and continue to be important in celebrating and commemorating this holiday. Q. Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle? A. I was inspired by family photo albums , intaglio prints, and illuminated letters. Early concepts and sketches of the Doodle below Location: , Tags: , ,
17.06.2021 13:31 Date: June 17, 2021 Whether they're near or far, make Dad a little piece of art from your heart in today’s interactive, digital card-maker Doodle. Happy Father’s Day! ❤️ FATHER’S DAY TEAM ❤️ Lead Artist | Alyssa Winans Additional Art | Olivia When Engineers | Brian Murray, Collin Irwin, Tom Tabanao, Jacob Howcroft, Nicole Patten, Yumi Kim Producers | Gregory Capuano, Colin Duffy UX Designers | Anthony Irwin, Diana Tran Marketing | Perla Campos, Grace Chen Business Affairs Lead & Partnerships | Madeline Belliveau Doodle Team Leads | Jessica Yu, Brian Kaas Location: , Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
17.06.2021 05:22 Date: June 17, 2021 Today’s Doodle celebrates Iceland National Day, an annual holiday commemorating the day in 1944 when the nation officially became a sovereign republic. Celebrations fall on June 17 in honor of the birthday of Jón Sigurðsson, a historian, philologist, and leader of Iceland’s 19th-century independence movement. The Republic of Iceland was officially declared on this day in 1944 in Þingvellir, a city with great significance as it’s also where the nation’s parliament was first established in 930 A.D. Although now operating in the capital city of Reykjavík, Iceland’s parliament continues to serve the nation as the longest-running representative assembly in the world! Celebrations of freedom can be heard each National Day with bells that ring in harmony across Reykjavík. Their chimes echo into downtown’s Austurvöllur Square where a public poetry recital is performed by the Lady of the Mountain, a person chosen each year to represent Iceland’s otherworldly natural landscape and feminine spirit. A day full of festivities traditionally follows this event, as Icelanders throughout the world celebrate their cultural heritage and national pride in merriment. Gleðilegan þjóðhátíðardag, Ísland! Location: Tags: , , , ,
15.06.2021 12:03 Date: June 15, 2021 “I am strong because I have hope. I once asked my father how he overcame obstacles and became who he wanted to be. He replied, ‘Hope, hope keeps me strong.’" Today we congratulate the U.S. 2021 Doodle for Google contest winner—Kentucky-based 11th grader Milo Golding! Milo’s winning artwork was recently announced on NBC’s TODAY show and is featured on the U.S. Google homepage today for 24 hours. Pictured: Milo wearing his Doodle t-shirt! Video: Milo hearing the news of his win from Google CEO, Sundar Pichai Milo wants his Doodle to inspire hope and encourage others to overcome obstacles in the face of life’s hardships. After losing his dad at 13 due to a heart attack, holding onto hope helped him overcome grief, and now he supports other children in similar situations. Through his charity , he serves children 18 and under who have lost loved ones by providing them with holiday gifts, care packages and back-to-school kits. . Pictured: Milo building Christmas packages with his charity, Sanguine Path As the U.S. 2021 Doodle for Google contest national winner, Milo has won a $30,000 college scholarship and a $50,000 technology package for his school. Congrats again to Milo! And thank you again to the thousands of students across the US who shared what makes them strong with us this year! To all upcoming K-12 teachers, parents, and students: be sure to for updates around the 2022 Doodle for Google contest, set to open again this Fall. Keep on Doodling! Location: , , Tags: , , , ,
13.06.2021 20:19 Date: June 14, 2021 This year, June 14 marks the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar–the day of the annual Dragon Boat Festival, or Duanwujie. Today’s Doodle celebrates this ancient tradition, which has a history that is more than 2,000 years old. The Dragon Boat Festival is a high-spirited tradition where competitors paddle long, vibrantly-painted long wooden boats into rivers and race to the finish. The team of dragon boat sailors row as fast as they can toward a finish line while one team member sits toward the front of the ship and beats a drum to maintain their pace and keep energy high. Spectators and racers alike enjoy zongzi, a tetrahedron-shaped sticky rice treat wrapped in reed or bamboo stalks believed to bring good fortune. In some cultures, revelers add another friendly contest to the day—egg balancing. Noon is said to be the best time to keep the egg standing! Good luck to everyone competing today and Happy Dragon Boat Festival! Early concepts and drafts of the Doodle below Location: , , , , , Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
13.06.2021 04:20 Date: June 13, 2021 Whether they're near or far, make Dad a little piece of art from your heart in today’s interactive, digital card-maker Doodle. Happy Father’s Day! ❤️ FATHER’S DAY 2020 TEAM ❤️ Lead Artist | Alyssa Winans Additional Art | Olivia When Engineers | Brian Murray, Collin Irwin, Tom Tabanao, Jacob Howcroft, Nicole Patten, Yumi Kim Producers | Gregory Capuano, Colin Duffy UX Designers | Anthony Irwin, Diana Tran Marketing | Perla Campos, Grace Chen Business Affairs Lead & Partnerships | Madeline Belliveau Doodle Team Leads | Jessica Yu, Brian Kaas Location: Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
13.06.2021 04:20 Date: June 13, 2021 Today’s Doodle celebrates the 155th birthday of Portuguese artist Aurélia de Souza, one of the few women whose work was exhibited in galleries alongside Portugal’s great 19th century painters. Infused with strokes of realist and impressionist influences, de Souza’s naturalist paintings served as windows into daily Portuguese life through landscapes of her journeys and her personal favorite genre: self- and family portraits. On this day in 1866, Maria Aurélia de Souza was born to Portuguese immigrants in Valparaíso, Chile. Her family returned to their homeland after acquiring a farm along the Douro river near Porto, Portugal. It was on these idyllic banks that de Souza began to paint and draw at the age of 16. After only three years, she painted her first self-portrait—an art form that became her hallmark. In 1893, de Souza further refined her talent in the Portuguese tradition as a student of the Porto Academy of Fine Arts. De Souza moved to Paris in 1899, where she expanded her palette as an apprentice of several French masters. After one year in her new home, she captured herself dressed wearing a red-coat in the oil painting “Self-Portrait,” a work widely regarded as her most famous. She continued to draw influence from the international arts in the years that followed, traveling across Europe before returning to Portugal in 1902. De Souza’s paintings were regularly featured at her alma mater, just one of the many prestigious Portuguese galleries that championed her work. In addition to her lifelong work as a painter, de Souza also illustrated for Portuguese magazines and the 1913 short story entitled “Perfis Suaves” . Happy birthday, Aurélia de Souza! Location: Tags: , , , ,
12.06.2021 04:31 Date: June 12, 2021 Today’s Doodle celebrates the 99th birthday of Italian professor, activist, author, and astrophysicist Margherita “The Lady of the Stars” Hack. Outside of her interest in satellites, asteroids, and the evolution of stellar atmospheres, Hack championed civil rights as an outspoken advocate for progressive causes, animal protection, and equality for all. Margherita Hack was born in Florence on this day in 1922. She took just one university class in literature before switching her major to physics. Following the 1945 defense of her thesis on Cepheid variables , Hack applied her knowledge of stellar spectroscopy as an astronomer at Florence’s Astronomical Observatory of Arcetri. In 1964, Hack moved to Trieste, where she made history not just as the first Italian woman to earn a full professorship at the city’s university but also as the first female director of the Trieste Astronomical Observatory. For over 20 years, she transformed Trieste’s Observatory from a largely anonymous institution to a globally renowned nexus of scientific progress. These distinguished innovations garnered Hack international recognition in the astronomical community, which led to prestigious memberships at NASA and the European Space Agency—both home to the world’s foremost scientific observatories. Acclaimed for her ability to explain complex scientific concepts to the general public, Hack published dozens of academic papers, several astronomy books, and founded two astronomical magazines. She received a litany of accolades for her lifetime achievements, notably having asteroid 8558 Hack, which orbits between Mars and Jupiter, named in her honor in 1995. At 90 years young, the Italian government conferred Hack with its highest award: the title of Dama di Gran Croce. Happy birthday, Margherita Hack, and thank you for inspiring future generations to shoot for the stars! Early drafts of the Doodle below Location: , , , Tags:
12.06.2021 04:31 Date: June 12, 2021 Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Moscow-based guest artist , commemorates Russia’s National Day or simply “Russia Day.” On this day in 1990, Russia proclaimed state sovereignty and adopted its modern declaration, flag, and national anthem. Although Russia Day has been celebrated since 1992, it is considered one of the country’s youngest holidays due to its official renaming on February 1, 2002. Many Russians view today as the informal start of the summer season and take advantage of the day off work as a perfect opportunity to spruce up their gardens or view firework displays. For those with cottages in the countryside known as dachas, Russia Day serves as a chance to enjoy the summer weather with friends and family while taking in the rolling rural landscape, which is reflected in the colorful scene depicted in today’s Doodle artwork. С днем России! Happy Russia Day! Guest Artist Q&A with Ksenia Kopalova Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Moscow-based guest artist . Below, she shares her thoughts behind the making of this Doodle: Q. What artistic medium did you use for this Doodle? How do you feel the artistic style contributes to the Doodle theme overall? A. I always found it interesting how the so-called “traditional media” often associated with looking into the past, exists within digital space. In the case of the dacha theme, a pencil drawing felt more suitable as dachas are all about nostalgia—these places are in many ways archives, both personal and collective. Dachas are clearly “analog places,” even if there's wi-fi and all the necessary digital facilities. Also, digital media can feel quite cold and detached, while a traditional pencil drawing is about physical action, personal experience and warmth—just like a dacha is. It is just always interesting to interrupt the digital space that generally discourages traditional media with bits of real pencil strokes. Such interruptions always make me feel more aware of the environment in general, its preferences and values. Q. Is traditional pencil drawing your preferred medium for your work outside of Doodles? Tell us a bit more about your creative work and journey as an artist. A. My latest illustrations mainly use pencils, acrylics, stencil and mixtures of traditional techniques. What intrigues me the most at this point though is illustration studies, and, to be honest, this interest makes it increasingly more difficult for me to produce work of my own. Running about illustration and teaching are my current primary focuses. This is why my recent creative work is not so much about making illustrations, but rather about research and encouraging analysis, discussion, knowledge exchange and collaboration in illustration. Early drafts of the Doodle below Location: Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
11.06.2021 20:32 Date: June 12, 2021 On this day in 1898, a public reading of the Philippine Declaration of Independence in Cavite el Viejo proclaimed the archipelago a sovereign nation. Today’s Doodle commemorates this historic anniversary, celebrated annually as Philippines Independence Day. This revolutionary event was followed by the first public performance of “Lupang Hinirang” , the Philippine National Anthem, along with the first hosting of the Philippine national flag, which is featured in today’s Doodle artwork. Filled with symbolic meaning, all of the flag's colors stand for a unique element of Philippine pride. Blue represents the peace and justice earned from Philippine leaders’ heroic sacrifice, red signifies their courage and bravery, and the white triangle symbolizes unity and equality. Emblazoned on the far left of the flag glistens a symbol of freedom, a radiant sun with eight rays shining out of its center. Each ray symbolizes the first eight Philippine provinces to seek independence: Nueva Ecija, Manila, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Bataan. In the corners of the flag’s white triangles are three stars that represent Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, the three main regions of the Philippines. Happy Independence Day, Philippines! Location: Tags: , , , ,
10.06.2021 20:31 Date: June 11, 2021 It’s time for UEFA Euro 2020! A staple tournament for football fans worldwide since 1960, this year is the first time in history that the tournament’s 51 matches will be held in host cities across Europe—a dozen in total! It kicks off with a match between Turkey and Italy in the largest sports facility in Rome: Stadio Olimpico. So who will be dubbed the Euro 2020 champions and take home this year’s Henri Delaunay trophy? Tune in over the next month to find out. Best of luck to all the competing teams! Location: Tags:
10.06.2021 03:51 Date: June 10, 2021 Portugal uniquely observes its national day in remembrance of one of the country’s most influential poets: Luís de Camões. Today’s Doodle commemorates this nation-wide holiday, celebrated annually by the Portuguese community around the world. Luís de Camões’ magnum opus, the 1572 epic poem “Os Lusíadas” , is widely considered the most significant work of literature in the Portuguese language. This literary masterpiece memorializes Camões’ travels and the Portuguese navigations of an oceanic trade route to India by explorer Vasco de Gama. Ever since Portugal gained independence in 1640, June 10 has been observed as Dia de Camões. Traditionally on this day, the national Portuguese type of music and song known as fado can be heard echoing into the streets, as revelers celebrate this centuries-long tradition of their shared Portuguese heritage. A symbol of the nation’s culture, fado music features the Portuguese guitar, a 12-stringed chordophone depicted in the Doodle artwork. Happy Dia de Camões, Portugal! Location: Tags: , , , , , ,
09.06.2021 02:30 Date: June 9, 2021 Today's Doodle honors American actor, singer, dancer, and diplomat Shirley "Little Miss Miracle" Temple. Not only did Temple help millions of Americans through the hardships of the Great Depression as Hollywood's top box office draw, she also later shared her charisma with the world through her work in international relations. On this day in 2015, the Santa Monica History Museum opened “Love, Shirley Temple,” a special exhibit featuring a collection of her rare memorabilia. Shirley Jane Temple was born on April 23, 1928 in Santa Monica, California, and began dance classes at the tender age of three. With her signature dimples, blonde ringlet curls, and strong work ethic, she captivated the nation when she landed a role in the 1934 toe-tapping musical “Stand Up And Cheer.” Temple starred in a dozen films in 1934 alone, including “Bright Eyes,” where she performed what became one of her most famous routines “On the Good Ship Lollipop.” Before she even reached double digits in age, Temple was one of the most popular actors in American cinema—even becoming the first child star to receive an Academy Award at just six years old! In 1942, Temple’s unprecedented talent jumped from the silver screen to the airwaves as the star of “Junior Miss,” a radio sitcom about a teenage girl growing up in New York City. She continued to star in films throughout her teenage years, and at 22, she retired from the movie industry as a Hollywood icon. In 1958, Temple narrated the eponymous “Shirley Temple’s Storybook,” a children’s television series which adapted family-friendly stories—sometimes even filmed live. This short-lived anthology marked her final foray in American entertainment before her graceful transition into full-time public service. With a lifelong devotion to improving the lives of others, Temple was appointed as a representative of the U.S. to the United Nations in 1969. Her career in politics included her dedicated environmentalism, representing her nation in 1972 at the U.N. Conference on the Human Environment. In recognition of her diplomatic achievements, which included an ambassadorship to Ghana and becoming the first female Chief of Protocol to the State Department, she was appointed an Honorary Foreign Service Officer in 1988. In 2006, the Screen Actors Guild presented Temple with its Lifetime Achievement Award, the organization’s highest honor. Thank you, Shirley Temple! From iconic child star to breast cancer advocate, Shirley Temple’s journey is an extraordinary tale. Learn more with Special thanks to the family of Shirley Temple for their partnership on this project. Below Teresa Caltabiano, Temple’s granddaughter, shares her thoughts on the Doodle and her grandmother’s legacy. If you've seen a Shirley Temple movie, you have in a sense gotten to know who she was as a person. The feisty heroines she played who loved their families and who wanted to make the world a better and happier place was a reflection of her genuine character. Bright and highly intuitive, she quickly discovered that her "movie world" experience sparked in her what would become a lifelong fascination with people and the real world around her. Growing up, her character was tempered by the Depression and World War II, as was her awareness of the need to serve others. Her brother's M.S. diagnosis and later her own mastectomy strengthened her conviction that she could have a positive effect, not only in her own family, but around the world. As a Special Representative to the United Nations, among other responsibilities, she took on the role as an early environmental advocate. As Ambassador to Ghana and later to the Czech Republic, the merging of her talents as a communicator and her gift for service to others gave her great personal satisfaction. Her last diplomatic position as U.S. Chief of Protocol at the White House gave her the honor of welcoming the world to the country she loved. At the heart of everything was her family. We were blessed to know her, her love, her courage, and her strength. She is still deeply loved and truly missed, and we treasure our memories of her. Pictured: Shirley Temple Courtesy of the Black Family Archives Early drafts and sketches of the Doodle below Location: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
07.06.2021 09:04 Date: June 7, 2021 Today’s Doodle, illustrated by guest artist , celebrates Mexican pianist, guitarist, singer, poet, activist, and composer Roberto Cantoral. He soundtracked a booming era of romantic Latin pop with beloved ballads such as “El Reloj” and “La Barca” , both of which have been recorded over 1,000 times by dozens of musicians such as Plácido Domingo and Linda Ronstadt. Born in Tampico on this day in 1935, Roberto Antonio Cantoral García launched his career at 15 when he and his brother Antonio formed the duet “Hermanos Cantoral” . But his music found mainstream success once he banded together with Chamin Correa and Leonel Galver to form the trio aptly named “Los Tres Caballeros” . The trio traveled far and wide throughout the 50s, taking their romantic ballads on worldwide tours in countries ranging from Japan to Argentina. In 1960, Cantoral broke out on his own. His original solo compositions were performed by some of Mexico’s most distinguished singers, and he continued to share his music with the world into the 2000s, performing at music festivals, radio shows, and TV programs in over 120 countries. Along with his musical legacy, Cantoral advocated for protecting composers’ intellectual property as an honorary president of the Mexican Society of Composers and Authors for over 25 years. In 2009, Cantoral was honored at the 10th Latin Grammy Awards with the Latin Recording Academy Trustees Award to recognize his dedication to music and community. Happy birthday, Roberto Cantoral, and may your music live on forever in the hearts of listeners worldwide! Location: Tags: , , , , , , ,
06.06.2021 08:00 Date: June 6, 2021 Location: Tags: , , , ,
